Drones live - some questions

[DarkAxel]

Right, so

I have a Boss DM-2 clone that doesn't always work that well on bass for me. When I started playing bass, I thought I prefer it compared to my DMM, but just NO... anyway it got me thinking and with being in two bands with one of them being a bit more electronic based (but performed ina a bit more dirty and noisy guitar-driven manner), I think it might be the right time for me to buy a drone synth and try to incorporate it in our music.

So the idea that i'm currently discussing with Schlatte is a two or three oscillator drone synth, either based on the NAND or maybe just simply the Skychord Sleepdrone 3. That would go into an LPF, just a simple Cutoff/Reso controls and out of this drone station, i'd go into the DM-2 and then either straight in the mix or into the stereo input on my Ditto X2 to mix it into my amp

a couple of questions, mainly to those who use drones live

a) I am aware that running the drones through an amp would probably sound much better than going straight to the mixer. However, I think it's not a good idea, because it would just turn into a mush. Am i right? Should i just not worry about amping it and go straight?

b) What are the other shortcomings of drones as a part of live music? How hard it is to actually tune them right? Should I consider using a small pocket chromatic tuner maybe?

c) generally, is it doable?

ps: d) Yes, i am basically thinking about more of a tabletop/pedal modular type-deal. I do expect it might grow with maybe like a Monotron, a Theremin, small stuff blahblah... I just don't have the sort of money for a full-blown modular system, not even a Mini one. Plus this is a starter kit for me to use maybe in two or three songs so far - hopefully more later

[MrNovember]

I can't really answer all your questions as I don't perform live but most of my jamming at home is done with a Drone Commader now (also a wicked instrument)
There was a recent thread that brought up tuning drone synths so I tried to plug my polytune into it. I had no problem at all tuning it with that method. Definitely a little harder to tune it by ear but not impossible
Also I just play mine through amps and don't notice any 'mush'. I think it sounds pretty great actually
I'm currently running my set up through a Fender Excelsior and it sounds pretty excellent. Probably not ideal for a live situation though. I'd definitely prefer it though a bass or keyboard amp.

[Dr. Sherman Sticks M.D.]

say it with me now..

ooooooooooooooOOOOooooooooooOOoOOoooOOOHhhhhhhhmmmmmmmmmMMMMMMMMMMMM
( Ω )

[Doctor X]

i would use a full range pa/keyboard amp or straight to mixer if possible, will sound much better/fuller.
and if you have a spare/cheap tuner you can plug through, for the base note and tune the rest by ear.
or depending on how you are setting up you could always tune the first note against the guitar note.

if it works out its probably getting a few cheap pedals dedicated to it (if you dont have spares already), things like cheap dod/boss phaser/chorus/trem, that can pulse and evolve hands free

[Eivind August]

I use mine into a cheapo Behringer mixer. And as the good Doctor X said, a few pedals will do magic!

[ThurberMingus]

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TNajsCXnmNk[/youtube]

You want this.

Available here http://www.handmadeelectronicinstrument ... mal-drone/

EDIT: GAH I CAN'T GET YOUTUBE TO WORK HALP!

[MrNovember]

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TNajsCXnmNk[/youtube]

You want this.

Available here http://www.handmadeelectronicinstrument ... mal-drone/

EDIT: GAH I CAN'T GET YOUTUBE TO WORK HALP!

Take out the s in https
Also that looks and sounds pretty awesome
Incredibly reasonable price too

[DarkAxel]

What I'm afraid of with going into the mixer straight is not really having control over the volume and having to trust the soundguy which I sort of don't DO

and yeah, cheapish tabletop board is sort of what i'm shooting for...

I was afraid of the "mush" because i'd have the drone running into the amp , but also play through the amp at the same time. Not all the time perhaps, but enough? Anyway - got an idea, my GK has an effects loop, so in order not to overload the input by feeding it two signals, i could plug the drone sidechain to the return of the effects loop maybe... maybe I don't need to worry about it, but this is all sort of new to me, so I don't know

I'm thinking about it in a similar way as about looping rigs - in my head it's better to go stereo with them and separate the loops from the other signal

I know about the minimal drone, but I wanted to first contact Schlatte about something custom however, it is completely possible i'll go the way of small budget. Wouldn't be the first time

[nevada]

FYI Rucci's Maximal Drone has an LPF (no resonance control) as part of the features.

What is your budget? Something like a Korg MS2000R could really be the ultimate drone synth if used unconventionally. It isn't boutique builder quality, but it can modulate and self-seq like a motherfucker compared to all of the handheld drone synths.

[nevada]

(Plus a two-ch passive mixer to solve your input issue)

[MrNovember]

FYI Rucci's Maximal Drone has an LPF (no resonance control) as part of the features.

What is your budget? Something like a Korg MS2000R could really be the ultimate drone synth if used unconventionally. It isn't boutique builder quality, but it can modulate and self-seq like a motherfucker compared to all of the handheld drone synths.

I was just checking out Rucci's Etsy page. I want like all of it. The sequencer is pretty cool too
And maybe if you went the cheaper route your budget could fit a decent bass or keyboard amp, which would also avoid the sound guy worries.
I have no experience playing guitar/bass with my Drone Commander through the same amp

[nevada]

The Rucci stuff needs an amp or a boost if going into a board. He's a super nice guy! I suggested he visit ILF a few months ago. Not sure if he did.

Here's an example of my MS2000R idea
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dhCi9QWRr_8[/youtube]

[Iommic Pope]

Gonna lurk the shit out of this thread as its something I want to get into.

[aen]

a) I am aware that running the drones through an amp would probably sound much better than going straight to the mixer. However, I think it's not a good idea, because it would just turn into a mush. Am i right? Should i just not worry about amping it and go straight?

You should give it it's own amp, if at all possible. You should also try it all through one amp and see if that is doable before any DI is considered, because that is kind of the worst sometimes.

b) What are the other shortcomings of drones as a part of live music?

There are none.

How hard it is to actually tune them right? Should I consider using a small pocket chromatic tuner maybe?

If you're playing with free-running type knob synths and other people, yeah, a tuner would help a lot.

c) generally, is it doable?

Fuck yeah it is. I've been doing plenty of drone or one note synth things in rock bands for years!

[D.o.S.]

Totally doable. Tuning is pretty important, so a tuner's nice. If you want to control the volume, use a volume pedal